CUHK Launches Hong Kong’s First University-wide Minor Programme in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
EPIN Offers interdisciplinary learning experience to all undergraduate students at CUHK.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is introducing a pioneering, university-wide Minor Programme in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (EPIN) in the 2017-18 academic year. The first of its kind in Hong Kong, EPIN is open to all undergraduate students from different faculties and departments. It will act as a platform to nurture creativity, acquire key entrepreneurial attributes and manage innovation processes theoretically and practically, so as to grasp the opportunities brought by various types of technological and social innovations.
In recent years, there has been a wave of entrepreneurship in Hong Kong. Many young people, with their creative and technological knowledge, have pioneered their business with their entrepreneurial spirit and efforts. In the latest Budget, the Government has also introduced a number of measures to support Hong Kong’s start-ups. Riding this wave of entrepreneurial innovation, the younger generation should be well prepared and equipped.
Prof. Andy Wong, Assistant Dean (Undergraduate Studies), Co-director of Integrated BBA Programme, and Director of Asian Business Studies Stream at CUHK Business School, said, “Contrary to popular belief, creativity can be taught and learned. In today’s highly digitised world, being creative is not optional. We must adapt to changes and be able to innovate and produce new solutions.”
“Entrepreneurship is much more than starting up a new company or launching new products and services. It is a mindset that makes leaders future-compatible,” he added.
The design of the EPIN curriculum employs an interdisciplinary approach. Specially designed courses on knowledge and skills required for entrepreneurial innovation are arranged by various faculties and departments to provide a comprehensive training for students. The programme encourages collaborative efforts among students of different specialisations. Students are required to complete a minimum of 18 units of courses in three key areas, namely “Mindset and Values”, “Knowledge and Skills”, and “Practices”. In the 2017-18 academic year, three new courses, “Anatomy of an Entrepreneur”, “Design Thinking and Practices” and “The Psychology of Creativity and Innovation”, will be introduced to start the Minor, while the remaining twenty courses will be offered in the following years. To facilitate students in obtaining hands-on experience in realizing a new idea, the programme will line-up alumni and companies achieving excellence in entrepreneurial innovation to provide different kinds of experiential learning opportunities, including mentorship, internship, overseas study tours and international competitions.
Prof. Kam-fai Wong, Co-director of EPIN and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Engineering said, “CUHK has a strong alumni network, with a proven track record in advancing entrepreneurship and innovation. CUHK is resourceful in providing valuable opportunities to students who aspire to develop an entrepreneurial career, fostering their entrepreneurial mindset to succeed in this vibrant, ever changing world.”
CUHK has been committed to promoting an innovative culture on campus, stimulating creativity and encouraging students to apply their academic and professional knowledge to seek innovation and entrepreneurship. In 2014, the University launched Hong Kong’s first Pre-incubation Centre (Pi Centre), which provides students with comprehensive entrepreneurial support including free working space, facilities, and mentoring services to teams of students who are looking to establish companies to commercialise technologies and get them ready to implement innovative business models. The University also established the Centre for Entrepreneurship, the Office of Research and Knowledge Transfer Services and the Centre for Innovation and Technology to stimulate entrepreneurial ideas among teachers and students, and foster technology transfer to society.
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(From left) Mr. James Chen, Year 2 student, Quantitative Finance Programme; Dr. Andy Wong, Assistant Dean (Undergraduate Studies) of CUHK Business School and Prof. Kam-fai Wong, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, both are Co-directors of the EPIN Minor Programme; and Dr. Jianwei Chen, Research Associate, Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, CUHK
This press release was first published in the CUHK Communications and Public Relations Office’s website on 11 April, 2017.